Blowout preventer



May '23, 1939. w. MaccLATcHIE 2159,54!)

BLOWOUT PREVENTER Filed Jan. 2a, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 N V EN TOR.

J W. M CLATCHIE May 23, 1939.

BLOWOUT PREVENTER Filed Jan. 28, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V INVENTOR. .Joluz "(New Claicfize,

V RMM ATTORNEY.

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLOWOUT PREVENTER John W. MacClatchle, Los Angelcs, Caiif., assignor to MacClatchlo Manufacturing Company of California, Compton, Calif., a corporation of California Application January 28, 1936, Serial No. 61,153

11 Claims. (Cl. 166-15) This invention is a blowout preventer for wells, the housing, .and which when the closure eleand has for an object to eliminate binding enments are in either of their operative positions gagement of a closure means while it is being is adapted to first release the closure elements shifted to operative or inoperative position, and from their radial binding against the housing to tightly seat the closure means when it has and to then swing the closure elements back to been moved to operative position so as to protheir inoperative position without binding vide an efficient seal.- against the housing during said reverse oscilla- It .is a further object of the invention to shift tion. I the closure means to operative -or inoperative It is a still further object of the invention to position by oscillation of cooperating elements provide a remote control for the operating 10 v in a cooperating housing, with the cooperating means, and to preferably actuate the operating elements having bearing fit in the housing for means by fluid pressure and/or manual means. free oscillation, and being radially displaced Further objects of the invention will be readwhen they reach operative position so as to then ily understood from the following description of tightly seat against the housing. the accompanying drawings, in which: 16

It is a still further object of the invention Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the invention.

to adapt the cooperating elements for engage- Fig. 2 is avertical section on the line 2-2 of ment when they reach operative position, with Fig. 1.

said engagement at a surface and not at a mere Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 line of contact. of Fig. 2.

It is a still further object of the invention t Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2,

arrange the cooperating elements so that when showing the closure means swung to one of its oscillated to one operative position their engageoperative positions.

ment provides a closure throughout their entire Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 surfaces of contact, and when reversely oscilof Fig. 4. 2'5 lated to another operative position their en- Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the gagement provides a closure at their surfaces of closure means swung to its other operative posicontact having a restricted bore opening theretion.

through for snug reception of a well string. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on the line 'l1 It is a still further object of the invention to of. Fig. 6. 80

arrange the'closure means so that when shifted Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-l to its operative position wherein a closure is of Fig. 4.

formed throughout the entire surface of contact Fig. 9 is a diagram of thecontrol valve.

of its cooperatingclosure elements, subterranean The blowout preventer is preferably used in as pressure in the well will tend to tighten the raconnection with a usual well structure which indial seating of the closure elements against the cludes well casing l adapted to receive a well housing, thereby effectively sealing the well; and string such as drill pipe or production tubing,

.when the closure means is shifted to its opershown in the present instance as tubing 2 having ative position wherein the surface of contactcoupling collars 3.

\ between its cooperating closure elements. has a A housing is mounted on the casing l and has bore opening therethrough for passage of a well upper and lower openings H concentric with string, the weight of the well string will tend to the bore of the casing. 'Iransversely of the tighten the radial seating of the closure eleaxis of the casing l the housing forms a cylinments against the housing, thereby effectively der I which is closed at its ends by detachable I sealing the well around the well string.- plates 8. A closure means is movable in the It is a still further object of the invention to cylinder 1 to inoperative position clearing the provide an operating means for the closure eleprolongation of the alined openings 5-4 as ments, which when the closure elements are in shown at Fig. 2, or is movable to operative posiinoperatlve position is adapted to first swing the tion overlying one or the other of the openings 0 closure elements to either of their operative po- 58 and tightly engaging the wall of cylinder sitions without the closure elements binding 1 so as to close and seal the opening. The cloagainst the housing, and to then radially dissure means is preferably adapted for shifting in place the closure elements when they have one direction as shown at Fig. 4 so as to overlie reached their operative position so as to mainand completely close the opening 5, or is adapttain the closure elements tightly sealed against ed for shifting in the opposite direction as shown,

at Fig. 6 so as to overlie the opening 3, in which position v the closure .means seals around the opening but has arestricted bore opening through the closure means concentric with the opening and adapted for passage of the wellstring 2 through said restricted opening.

As an instanceof this arrangement the closure means may comprise cooperating plates ||l-| I, which are arcs of a cylinder, these sure plates being Journaled in the cylinder "I at opposite sides of the axisv of the openings 3-3,

with the outer peripheral bearing surfaces l2 of the arcuate. closure plates concentric 'with. the

cylinder I, and with the ends l3 of the arcuate guides l4 on the end plates 3.. The top and bottom surfaces of the arcuate closure plates are shown at I! and I3 respectively, and are of appreciable area and extend radially of the cylinder 1 so that-when the closure plates are swung to one or the other of their operative positions shown at Figs.- 4 and 6, either the surfaces II or 13 abut throughout their entire areas and with said abutment at the axis of the openings 3-3. The top surfaces l3 are fiat surfaces throughout their entire area so that when they abut as shown at Fig. 4 the plates Ill-ll completely close the opening 5 as shown at Fig. 5, and the bottomone ofthe coupling collars 3 of the well string adapted to seat on the surfaces of the cooperat-' ing cilosure plates which surrounds the restricted bore 1.

when the cooperating plates ||||l thus close either the opening I or 3 they seal around said opening, and when in the operative position shown at Fig. 6 they also. seal around the well string which extends through the bore II. For

this purpose packing at the bearing surfaces I2 is adapted to engage the wall of cylinder 1, and

packing is also provided at the abutment surfaces l5 and I3 and inv the bore II. The packing is preferably mounted in' grooves in the arcuate plates I, and may comprise strips of packing 20-20a extending lengthwise of the bearing surfaces l2-medially of their arcuate width, with 3 packing strips 2|--2|a extending from, the ends of the strips 20- -23a. and along the bearing surfaces I2 to the respective abutment surfaces |-|6. Packing strips 22--22a extend fromthe ends of strips 2|2|a across the abutment sur- I faces |3-|3, and the strips 22 and 220. are respectively connected by packing strips 23-230 which extend along the abutment surfaces |3--| 3.

The packing st ps'23a which extend along the abutment surfaces II also extend around the i borelll as shown at 23b.

when the closure plates are in the operative position shown in Fig. 4, the packing strips 23-2l thus seal completely around the opening 3 as shown at Fig. i, and the packing strips 22--23 seal the.cooperating abutment surfacesll. In similar manner when the closure plates are in the operative position shown at Fig. 8, the packing strips 2lla' 2la completelyaround the opening 6 and the packlng'strips flat-23a seal the cooperating abutment It, with the cloclosure plates preferably bearing against arcuate The restricted bore ll .provided iii packing strips 23b sealing completely around the well string 2. K

The closure plates are adapted for dependent swinging movement in the cylinder 1 to either their intermediate inoperative position shown at Fig. '2 or to one or the other of their operative positions shown at Figs. 4 and 6. For this purpose cranks 30 and 3| may be journaled in the cylinder 1 concentricwith the axis thereof, with the shafts of the cranks preferably pro- Jecting outwardly beyond the respective end plates 3. As shown at Fig. 3 the throws of the cranks are of such dimensions as to clear the prolongation of the openings 5-6. when the closure plates |3-|| are in their intermediate inoperative position, and clear the well string 2 and its coupling collars 3 when the closure plates are swung to either of their operative positions shown at Figs. 4 and 6..

To permit convenient assembly of the parts I the throws of the cranks are ofiset from one another longitudinally of the cylinder 1 as shown at Fig. 3, so that at one end of the cranks the arm 33a of the crank 30 is inside the arm 3|b of the crank 3|, with the shaft 300 which projects from the crank arm 30a journaled in a hollow shaft 3ld which projects from the crank arm 3"), while at the opposite end of the cranks the arm 33b .of the crank 30 is outside the arm 3la of the crank 3|, with the shaft 3|c which proiects from the crank'arm 3|a Journaled in a hollow shaft 30d which projects from the crank arm 33b. .The shafts 3lId-3|d are Journaled in the end plates 3, and the shafts 30c3lc project outwardly beyond the shafts 3|d30d, but are of such restricted length that when during as sembly and disassembly of the parts the cranks 3ll-3l are relatively longitudinally shifted until the arm 33:: is alongside the arm 3f a, the shafts 30o-3|c will have been completely withdrawn from the hollow shafts -3|d-3|ld,. thereby percranks.

In order to seal the housing I where the crank shafts project outwardly through the end plates 3, packing 33 is preferably provided in the bores of the hollow shafts 30d- 3|d so as to engage the shafts 3|e-33c, and similar packing 36 is the hollow sh fts 3|ld-3ld. The packing 33 and ,33 is preferably hydraulimpacking operatively expandedby pressure in the housing fl,- the pres- 7 sure being preferably admitted to the packing 33 via ports 34 in the crank arms 33a3|a, with said ports communicating withannular channels 33 in said crank arms, and the pressure being admitted to the packing 36 via similar ports-31 mitting relative lateral displacement of the e end plates 8 at the bearings forand annular channels 33 in the cranks arms 3|Ib-3|b. I I The cranks 3||-'3| are adapted for dependent opposite oscillation whereby they may be selecshown at Figs. 2, .4 and 6, and for this purpose driving connections which preferably have a common drive, are adapted to respectively engage theproiectingwrank shafts 3Ic 3|d and 1 3|c33d. As an instance of .this arrangement beveled gears 43 may be fixed on the projecting facing,

nailed on the end'plates 3 as shown' at 44. Ro-

; tively swung to any one of the various positions l shafts 43 and may include segmental gears 45.

tation of the shafts 43 in opposite directions thus dependently swings the cranks 3ll3| in opposite directions, and by reversing the direction of rotation of the shafts 43 the cranks may be swung in either of reverse directions.

A common drive is preferably provided for the fixed on the shafts 43 and meshing with gears 45 which are journaled on the housing 1 and which in turn mesh with opposite sides of a rack 41, the rack being preferably guided on the housing 1 as shown at 45. The common drive may be poweractuated and is preferably also adapted for manual actuation.

Asv an instance of a suitable power drive the rack 41 may be connected to a piston rod 55 which is in turn connected to a piston 5|. The piston is adapted for reciprocation in a cylinder 52, and by a suitable valvular control A, preferably manually operated at a point remote from the blowout preventer, fluid pressure from a suitable source and which is supplied via a conduit 54, may be selectively admitted to either end of the cylinder 52 so as to selectively shift the rack 41 in either of reverse directionsand thereby oppositely rotate the shafts 43 in either of reverse directions.

As an instance of manual actuation for the driving mechanism, one of the shafts 43 may be extended by means of a flexible shaft 55 to a point remote from the blowout preventer, and may be rotated by a hand wheel 51 which preferably has a clutch engagement 58 with the shaft 55. v The clutch is normally disengaged, and in order to manually actuate the driving connection the hand wheel 51 is first axially shifted to engage the clutch 55 and is then selectively rotated in either of reverse directions so as to dependently swing the cranks 30--3| in either of reverse directions. I

Operating connections are provided between the cranks 30-3| and the closure plates Ill-l When the closure plates are in inoperativeposition as shown at Fig. 2 and during oscillation.

of the closure platesto one or the other of their operative positions shown at Figs. 4 and 6, the operating connections permit running fit of the closure plates in the cylinder 1; and when the cranks have swung the closure plates to one or the other of their operative positions, the operating connections provide for radially displacingthe closure plates with relation to their normal axes of rotation, and which normal axes are concentric in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, so as to seat the closure plates tightly against the wall of cylinder 1, at one or the other of the openings 5-5.

As an instance of this arrangement the inner peripheral surfaces of the arcuate plates |5-|| form cam surfaces 53-5l extending from low points 52 midway of the arcs of said plates, to-

ward the respective ends of said arcs, and the cranks til-3| have projections 53 which are adapted to'ride along these cam surfaces. The arcuate plates are yieldingly held against circumferential displacement in either direction relative to the cranks 3||3|, asfor example by springs 54-55 which are fixed to the plates |0|| with their free ends respectively bearing against the upper and lower sides of the arms of the cranks.

The'projections 53 are preferably radially ad-,

justable with relationto the cranks 3||--3| as shown at 55, and are so adjusted that with the cranks and the closure plates in the position shown at Fig. 2, in which position the projections 53 engage the low points 52 and the parts are yieldingly held in this relative position by the springs 54-55, the projections 53 do not force the closure plates |l-'-|| tightly against the wall of the cylinder 1, but permit free bearing fit of the closure plates in the cylinder. As the cranks are then swung toward one or the other of the cranks, with the projections 53 still engaging the t low points 52 so that the bearing surfaces l2 continue to have free bearing fit in the cylinder 1.

When the closure plates have reached either of their operative positions with either their surfaces II or l abutting so as to arrest further movement of the closure plates, continued swinging movement of the cranks 30-3| causes either the springs 54 or 55 to yield, so that the projections 53 then ride along either the cam surfaces 53 or 5| to the high points of the cams as shown at Figs. 4 and 6, thereby radially outwardly displacing the closure plates ill and II so as to tightly seat their bearing surfaces I2 against the concentric surface of the cylinder 1,- and thereby tightly sealing around either the opening 5 or 5. This cam engagement maintains a tight seal as long as the parts remain in either of the operative positions as shown at Figs. 4 and 6.

When the cranks 3|i--3| are then oscillated in the reverse direction for returning the closure plates to their inoperative position, the projec tions 53 first ride along either the cam surfaces 50 or 5| to the low points 52, thereby releasing the closure plates ill-ll from binding engagement against the wall of the cylinder 1. Reverse oscillation of the cranks being then continued, the springs 5455 hold the closure plates and the cranks against relative circumferential movement, so that the closure plates are swung with the cranks to inoperative position as shown at Fig. 2, during which movement the engagement of projections 53 with the low points 52 permits free bearing fit of the closure plates with relation to the wall of the cylinder 1.

With the closure plates in inoperative position as shown at Fig. 2, the driving means is preferably power actuated to swing the closure plates to one orthe other of their operative positions, and when the closure plates are to be returned to inoperative position, pressure against the ends of the piston 5| may be equalized and the hand wheel 51 rotated to swing the closure plates back to the position shown at Fig. 2.

To permit this method of operation the valvular control A may be arranged as diagrammatically shown at Fig. 9, the valvular control including a valve plug rotatable in a valve casing 1| and a second valve plug 12 rotatable in a valve casing 13, with the plugs 10--12 fixed to a common shaft 14 for dependent rotation by a suitable hand lever 14a. The valve casing 1| has an intake port 15 connected to the pressure supply pipe 54, and has outlet ports 15-11 communicating via conduits 1519 with the respective ends of the cylinder 52. The plug 15 has a bore 80 cooperating with the ports 1515-11, and when the plug 15 is turned to the position shown at Fig.

9 it shuts oil pressure from both ends of. the cylinder 52, and when turned as respectively indicated by the arrows C and D the bore 80 admits pressure to the cylinder at its upper and lower ends respectively.

The valve casing 13 has an exhaust port 8| and has intake ports 82-83 communicating via conduits 84-85 with the respective ends of the cylinder 52. The plug 12 is recessed so as to provide a passageway 85a cooperating with the ports 8142-83. The plugs Ill-12 being dependently rotated, when the plug is turned to the posi- .pressure is being supplied from conduit 54, which is thus shut off to the exhaust.

When the blowout preventer has beem assembled on the casing I, the valve A is turned to the position shown at' Fig. 9, exhausting both ends oi the cylinder 52,. and the clutch 58 is engaged and the hand wheel 51 is turnedso as to swing the closure plates I 0-4 I to inoperative position as shown at Fig. 2, thereby shifting the rack 1 so as to center the piston Si in the cylinder 52. The clutch 58 is then diSnBa8ed. The parts remain in this position until a blowout occurs, with an unobstructed continuation of the bore of the casing I extending across the cylinder 1 between the closure plates ll-el I and their cooperating cranks 30-, as shown at Fig. 2.

When a blowout occurs, the valve A is turned to the position C C or D-D' depending upon whether the opening 6 or 5 is to be closed, and which in turn depends upon whether or not there is a well string 2 in the casing I. The piston ii is thus actuated by pressurefrom the conduit 54 so that it is shifted to one end or the other of the cylinder 52 for swinging the closure plates lO-H to one or the other of their,operative positions, with the opposite end of the cylinder "remaining open to the exhaust..

The blowout preventer then remains in operative position for as long as desired, and when the closure'plates Ill-ll are "to be again swung to inoperative position, the valve A is turned to the position shown atFig. 9 and the piston II is again centered in the cylinder 52 by operating the hand wheelll.

The blowout preventer is thus adapted for movement of its closure eans to either opera tive or inoperative position, with theclosure means tightly seated and sealed when in operative position. The closure means is adapted to close and seal the opening 5, with subterranean pressure from the well tending to upwardly radially displace the closure plates IO-ll so as to tighten their sealing engagement with the wall of the cylinder l; or the blowout preventer is adapted to close the opening 6 with a well string 2 ex-, tending through the bore l1, and with the weight of the well string exerted downwardly against the closure plates ill-H as a result of a collar 3 of the well string resting upon said plates, therer bore II. The arrangement is also such ma ither the surfaces IE or li'of the closure platesare adapted for abutment throughout the entire areas of said surfaces, with said surfaces of appreciable area, thereby insuring an effective seal.

I claim: j g

1. In combination, a housing having an opening, communicating with a well bore, closure means for the opening comprising cooperating elements having flat abutment surfaces, and mountings for the cooperating elements adapting them for rotation for area contact of said abutment surfaces defining closed position of the closure means and also adapting them for radial displacement when in closed positionfor seating engagement with the housing responsive to subterranean .pressure in the well bore.

2. In combination, a housing having an opening communicating with a well bore which is adapted to receive a well string, closure means comprising cooperating elements, and mountings for the cooperating elements adapting them for rotation for contact defining closed position of the closure means and also adapting them for radial displacement when in closed position for seating engagement with the housing, the cooperating elements having cooperating recesses defining a bore through the closure means when the cooperating elements are in said closed position, said bore being adapted to receive the well string with a shoulder of the well string seated on the cooperating elements around said bore for radially displacing the cooperating elements by the weight of the well string exerted against the cooperating elements at said shoulder.

3. In combination, a housing having an opening therethrough communicating with a well bore which is adapted to receive a well string, closure means comprising cooperating elements, and mountings for the cooperating elements adapting them.for rotation in either of reverse directions for contact defining a closure for the opening and also adapting them for radial displacement when in closed position for seating engagement with the housing, the cooperating elements having cooperating recesses defining a bore through the closure means when said closure means {IS in one of its closed positions, said bore being adapted to receive the well string with a shoulder of the well string seated on the cooperating elements around said bore for radially displacing the cooperating elements by the weight of the well string exerted against the cooperating elements at said shoulder, and the cooperating elements being' adapted for radial displacement responsive to subterranean pressure in the well when the closure 1 means is in the other of its closed positions.

4. In combinationfa housing having anopening, closure means for the opening, a mounting for the closure means adapting it for running fit in the housing for movement to o'perative or inoperative position and also adapting the closure meaps for transverse displacement for seating engagement with the housing, and means fortransversely displacing the closure means when in operative position.

5. In combination, a housing h-aving an open-J ing, closure means for the opening; a mounting for the closure means adapting it for free running bearing fit in the housing for oscillation to operative or inoperative .position and also adapting the closure means for radial displacement for seating engagement withthe housing, nd'means for radially displacing the closure in ans when in op 1 crative position.

6. In combination,a housing having an opening, closure means comprising cooperating elements rotatablefor contact defining a closure for the opening, a mountingv for the cooperating elements Journalling them in. the housing for free running bearing fit and also adapting them for radial displacement for seating engagement with the housing, and means for radially displacing the cooperating elements when in closed position.

'7. In combination, a housing having an opening therethrough communicating with a well bore which is adapted to receive a well string, closure means comprising cooperating elements, mountings for the cooperating elements adapting them for rotation in either of reverse directions for contact defining a closure for the opening and also adapting them for radial displacement when in closed position for seating engagement with the housing, the cooperating elements defining a bore through the closure means when said closure means is in one of its closed positions, said bore being adapted to receive the well string, and means for radially displacing the cooperating elements when in either of their closed positions.

8. In combination, a housing having an opening, closure means for the opening, a mounting for the closure means adapting it for free running fit in the housing for shifting to operative or inoperative position and also adapting it for transverse displacement for seating engagement with the housing, and operating means for shifting the closure to operative or inoperative position and for transversely displacing the closure means when in operative position.

9. In combination, a housing having an opening, closure means for the opening, a mounting for the closure means adapting it for free bearing fit in the housing for rotation to operative or inoperative position and also adapting it for radial displacement for seating engagement with the housing, and operating means for rotating the closure means and for radially displacing the closure means when in operative position.

10. In combination, a housing having an opening, closure means comprising cooperating elements rotatable for contact defining a closure for' the opening, a mounting for the cooperating elements adapting them for free bearing fit in the housing for rotation to operative or inoperative position and also adapting them for radial displacement for seating engagement with the housing, and operating means for rotating the coopcrating elements and radially displacing said cooperating elements when in closed position.

11 In combination, a housing having an opening therethrough communicating with a well bore which is adapted to receive a well string, closure means comprising cooperating elements, mountings for the cooperating elements adapting them for rotation in either of reverse directions for contact defining a closure for the opening and also adapting them for radial displacement when in closed position for seating engagement with the housing, the cooperating elements defining a bore through the closure means when said closure means is in one of its closed positions, said bore being adapted to receive the well string, and operating means for rotating the cooperating elements in either of said reverse directions and for radially displacing said cooperating elements a when in either of their closed positions.

J OHN W. MACCLA'I'CHIE. 

